Michigan

Michigan State football home attendance dropped slightly in 2017

Updated February 13, 2018 at 6:33 PM;Posted February 13, 2018 at 6:30 PM

Michigan State running back LJ Scott (3) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter of their Big Ten football game against Indiana at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, on Saturday, October 21, 2017. (Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)

Michigan State more than tripled its win total from the previous season but overall home attendance dipped in 2017.

The average crowd at Spartan Stadium for seven home games was 72,485 (507,398 total), down from an average of 74,667 (522,666 total) for seven games in 2016. Michigan State was No. 19 in the nation in average home attendance - the same position it held the year before - according to figures released Tuesday by the NCAA. According to Michigan State, it was the 62nd straight year the program ranked among the top 25 in the nation in attendance.

Overall attendance for FBS teams dropped an average of 1,409 fans per game from 2016 - the biggest decline since 1983, according to CBSSports.

Michigan State ranked sixth in the Big Ten in average attendance. The conference had the top three teams in the nation and six in the top 20 in Michigan (first), Ohio State (second), Penn State (third), Nebraska (10th), Wisconsin (15th) and Michigan State.

After recording three sellouts in 2016, Michigan State didn't have a single one in 2017. Spartan Stadium's capacity is 75,005 and the largest announced crowd last fall was 74,111 for a 17-9 win against Indiana on Oct. 21.

Following the 2016 season in which Michigan State finished 3-9, including 2-5 at home, the Spartans posted a record of 10-3 last year, including 6-1 at Spartan Stadium. They opened the season with four straight games at home, including all three in nonconference contests (wins against Bowling Green and Western Michigan and a loss to Notre Dame at night), before kicking off Big Ten play with a win against Iowa.

Michigan State's final two home games of the year were marred by poor weather. There was a first-half lightning delay lasting more than three hours in a 27-24 win against Penn State on Nov. 4. In the home finale, a 17-7 win victory against Maryland on Nov. 18, the game began with a heavy rain that turned into snow midway through the first half.